Species information Abo ut Reso urces Hom e

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z vespertilio Click on images to enlarge

Family Scientific Name Erythrina vespertilio Benth. Bentham, G. (1848) Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical : 218. Type: Subtropical New Holland. Fide Krukoff & Barneby (1974). Flowers. Copyright B. Gray Common name Coral Tree; Cork Tree; Bat-wing Coral Tree; Batswing Coral Tree; Brake-block Pine; Corkwood; Grey Corkwood; Pine, Brake-block; Heilaman Tree Stem Deciduous; leafless for a period in the dry season. Dead bark pale and corky. Leaves Pairs of globular or cylindrical glands present on the upper surface of the compound leaf axis where the middle and lateral leaflets are attached. Leaflet blades about 3-10 x 6.5-12 cm. Leaf bearing twigs Scale bar 10mm. Copyright CSIRO sometimes densely beset with spines but sometimes completely free of spines. Flowers Calyx about 15-20 mm long. Standard about 30 mm long, much longer than any of the other petals. usually 10 (nine with the filaments united to form a tube and one free). Usually flowering when leafless. Fruit Pods +/- circular in transverse section but constricted between the . Pods about 11-15 cm long. Seeds +/- reniform. Testa bright red. Cotyledon stage, semi-hypogeal, hypogeal germination. Copyright CSIRO Seedlings Taproot thickened, carrot-like (Daucus carota). Cotyledons fleshy, about 15-17 x 5-6 mm, not or scarcely raised above the soil surface. First pair of leaves triangular. At the tenth leaf stage: leaflet blades triangular or broadly bilobed like butterfly wings, base cuneate or broadly cuneate; petiole and rhachis usually with a few small thorns; stipules about 2-3 mm long; stem often with a few small recurved thorns. germination time 8 to 10 days. Distribution and Ecology Endemic to Australia (?), occurs in WA, NT, CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards to north-eastern , also occurs in central Australia. Altitudinal range in northern Australia from near sea level to 800 m. 10th leaf stage. Copyright CSIRO Grows in open forest and monsoon forest. Natural History & Notes This was used in colonial medicine, leaves a reputed sedative. Cribb (1981). Tree X Synonyms Erythrina vespertilio Benth. var. vespertilio, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(3): 775(1926). Erythrina vespertilio var. typica Domin, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(3): 775(1926). Erythrina vespertilio var. biloba (F.Muell.) Domin, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(3): 775(1926). Erythrina biloba F.Muell., Hooker's Journal of and Kew Garden Miscellany 9: 21(1857), Type: In collibus plantitiebusque graniticis prope originem rivi Sturts Creek, 1849, T. L. Mitchell 189; holo: K. RFK Code 982 CC-BY Australian Tropical Herbarium unless otherwise indicated in the images.